Gateway Teams

In Scythopolis; a tiled inscription in Greek along the main street ('Cardo') from the 7th century Byzantine period amazingly preserved.

GYI Israel continued...

March 14, 2008 (journal)

Unfortunately it was time to leave on this morning and begin to head north along the Dead Sea and the Jordan River. Our stops began first with Qumran, the site of the discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls. We walked around the excavations of the Essene community that lived at this site and were responsible for creating and hiding the scrolls in the first century BC. It is amazing to understand that previous to the discovery of these scrolls, the earliest Biblical manuscripts were 1000 years newer and that the scrolls showed that current editions of the Old Testament were entirely accurate with them! Amazing stuff!

A view of what has become known as 'Cave #1' where the first of the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947.

We then began a 2 hour drive along the Jordan Valley passing by Jericho; which has the distinction of being the oldest and lowest city on earth. Unfortunately for us, it lies in West Bank territory and it’s not possible for an Israeli tour bus to go there. We then made it to the region south of the Sea of Galilee and the ancient (and current) city of Beth Shean and the Roman and Byzantine city known as Scythopolis. A tell at this site contains 20 layers of ancient cities and is where Saul and his 3 sons committed suicide and David wrote his lament. But, the most impressive thing to see here is the ruins of the city the Romans constructed, Scythopolis, which was part of the Decapolis referenced in the Gospels. Because of where it is, Jesus would almost assuredly been here. What’s amazing is that this has only been uncovered in the last 20 years and the immensity of what was uncovered and how well so much of it has been preserved. A theatre, streets, baths and meticulously placed tile, everywhere, and all still in tact. We even had an assembly of our entire 5 bus group in the theatre and we didn’t even come close to filling a 10th of it! David from Zambia gave us all a short devotional. This was an amazing and huge uncovering of this ancient city. In fact, it had been entirely covered over by earth to a depth of over 15 feet; all of which was excavated. The life of this city ended abruptly in the 8th century with an earthquake and one of the former inhabitants was even found under a fallen pillar with a bag of coins in his skeleton hand!

Using the toilet "Roman-style"; apparently privacy wasn't much of a concern!
A view over the entire excavated city of Scythopolis; all uncovered in the last 20 years. The theatre is at the other end of the city, the 'Cardo' (main drag) to my left lined with pillars.

We then arrived at our hotel; beautiful ‘villa’-style individual rooms looking out over the southern shore of the Sea of Galilee. An incredible ending to a great day.